Welsh retail group opens third franchise Co-op this year
Universal Retail Group has launched its third store in Wales this year with the opening of a Co-op franchise in Cardiff. The new Cardiff store has a Costa Coffee Express and in-store bakery along with: Fresh, chilled and healthy produce.
Source: talkingretail.com
Belgium: Franchising operation already cost Delhaize half a billion
Delhaize's turnover decreased by 1.8% to 5.3bln euros in 2023. Its operating result went down to minus 390mln, Belgian newspaper De Tijd derived from the retailer's annual report.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Ocado rolls out same-day deliveries as UK online grocery big hitter offers its customers Express It slots
Ocado has contacted its customers to inform them that same-day deliveries are now available. In an email, it said: "Need ingredients for tonight's supper or just craving your favourite snack? Express It".
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Aldi set to displace ASDA as UK's third biggest grocer in next five years, says GlobalData
ASDA is at a critical juncture, facing a leadership challenge alongside labor disputes and a shrinking market share in an increasingly competitive retail landscape. Third-placed ASDA is under threat, as the grocer's value proposition fails to resonate with consumers. Aldi is set to approach ASDA's market share by 2027 and could overtake it by 2028, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Source: globaldata.com
UK: Plum train service celebrates region's famous fruit
People in Gloucestershire can board a special train which celebrates the 'Pershore Plum' - a locomotive named after the region's famous fruit. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) is running a train which departs Broadway station at 14:25 BST for Cheltenham Racecourse. It commemorates the revered locomotive and the use of the line in days gone by to bring people fruit and vegetables from the Vale of Evesham. The event has been organised as part of the Pershore Plum Festival, which takes place over the bank holiday weekend of 24 to 26 August.
Source: bbc.com
Norway becomes latest country to recommend eating mostly plants in new dietary guidelines
Norway has published updated dietary guidelines that recommend choosing mostly plant-based foods and limiting red and processed meat consumption. The guidelines advise that all meals should include fruits and vegetables, while several servings of whole grains should be eaten each day.
Source: vegconomist.com
Romania to block Ahold Delhaize's Profi acquisition?
The Romanian competition authority fears that the acquisition of supermarket chain Profi by Ahold Delhaize would lead to a too strong market position for the Dutch retail group.
Source: retaildetail.eu
X5 delivers a 'strong' Q2 driven by LFL sales growth
X5 Group has posted 'strong' year-on-year revenue growth of 25.1% in the second quarter of its financial year, driven by growth in like-for-like (LFL) sales and selling space expansion.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Canada's Couche-Tard makes preliminary bid for Japan's Seven & i
Japan's Seven & i, owner of the 7-Eleven convenience stores, said it has received a preliminary takeover offer from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard, potentially the biggest purchase of a Japanese company by an overseas firm. News of the offer sent shares of the Tokyo-listed company surging by almost 23%, valuing it at around 5.6tln yen ($38bln). Couche-Tard, which operates Circle-K convenience stores, is valued at roughly $58bln.
Source: reuters.com
US: Ohio AG calls on court to toss FTC lawsuit on Kroger, Albertsons merger
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed an amicus brief with a U.S. District Court in Oregon urging the court to reject a lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission and nine attorneys general to block Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger's attempted $24.6bln acquisition of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Kroger pledges to double price cuts to $1bln after Albertsons merger
Kroger confirmed it plans to invest $1bln in price cuts if it consummates its merger with Albertsons. The figure is double the amount the grocer previously pledged to put toward price cuts linked to the proposed mega-merger.
Source: grocerydive.com
Brazil: Grupo Mateus' second-quarter profits increase by 18%
Brazil's third-largest retailer, Grupo Mateus, has announced an 18% year-on-year increase in net profit to 347.5mln reais (€57.7mln) for the second quarter of its 2024 financial year. In the same period, revenue at the business rose by 18.8% to 7.6bln reais (€1.3bln), up by 4.8% on a like-for-like basis.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Loblaw grocery stores introduce Fresh Promise on produce: If It's Not Fresh, It's Free
Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's leading grocery retailer, has rolled out a new Fresh Promise to Loblaws, Independent, valu-mart, and Zehrs locations. The program promises that if customers are not satisfied with produce purchased in store, it will be replaced and refunded, within seven days, no questions asked. The Fresh Promise applies to any fresh produce item purchased at Loblaws, Independent, valu-mart, and Zehrs locations, both in store and online.
Source: newswire.ca
US: Vallarta Supermarkets to debut renovated Burbank store
Hispanic retailer Vallarta Supermarkets has revealed it will reopen its popular Burbank, California, store on August 21. The newly remodeled Vallarta Burbank is introducing four new departments: La Isla, a Fruiteria, a Guacamole Station and Sushi. La Isla: Customers can now order fresh-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, as well as Vallarta's signature agua frescas in a variety of flavors. La Fruteria: New to Vallarta and the first of its kind, customers can order juicy fruit bowls topped with Tajin, Chamoy, lime juice and salt. Guacamole Station: Customers can customize fresh, hand-crafted guacamole tailored just the way they like it.
Source: progressivegrocer.com